What does intersex mean?
Intersex stands for a sex variance between the binary of male and female, or Cisgender.
Generally speaking, Cisgender people are those whose gender identity or expression conforms with their biological sex or birth sex.
The Oxford Dictionary of English once determined the word Intersex to mean:
the abnormal condition of being intermediate between male and female; hermaphroditism.
• [ count noun ] an intersex individual; a hermaphrodite.
This was updated to:
Relating to or denoting a person or animal that has both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: an intersex child | she identifies as intersex. The condition of having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: people born with intersex.• [count noun] a person or animal having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: she is different to the other teenagers in one crucial way—she is an intersex.
Old usage and out of date terminology.
Hermaphrodite is generally considered a taboo word and shouldn’t be ascribed to someone unless they label themselves as such.
Intersex and the trans community
Trans Media Watch describes Intersex as an individual in whom genetic, hormonal and physical features that may be thought typical of both male and female co-exist.
“individual in whom genetic, hormonal and physical features that may be thought typical of both male and female co-exist.
“They may be thought of as being male with female features, female with male features, or may have no clearly defined sexual features.”
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